Across from her, Linda Varenakova nodded. “Me too,” she said in a slight Eastern European accent.

Tessa Fields looked to the passenger seat. “What about you, Shelle?”

The petite brunette smiled. “Yeah, I could eat,” she answered in a soft Carolina drawl.

Tessa glanced at the signs rising from the service road parallel to I-25. “Buffalo Wild Wings?”

“Ick!” said Sapphire.

“I did not know the American buffalo grows wings,” said Linda.

Shelle laughed. “The wings come from chickens.”

“Then why is it not called Chicken Wild Wings?” asked Linda.

“Red Lobster?” said Tessa reading another sign.

“Not on your life,” said Sapphire.

“We’re running out of options,” said Shelle.

A blue and gold sign caught Linda’s eye. “International House of Pancakes. That sounds very welcoming to a girl from Bratislava.”

“Suits me,” said Sapphire.

“I’m in,” said Shelle.

“IHOP it is,” said Tessa as she maneuvered the silver Volvo XC40 down the exit ramp.

Inside the IHOP heads turned and conversations stopped as the four ladies stepped to the host’s station.

From left to right stood: Sapphire in a maroon cashmere sweater, khakis and gray ankle boots, Shelle Rivers dressed in all black, a daring top, mini-skirt, fishnets and heels, Linda wore a long-sleeve, lavender fitted t-shirt, faded jeans and trainers, and Tessa in a blue-and-white checked blouse open to the third button, yellow capri pants and sandals.

The host, Richard by his name badge, took one look at the four and stopped cold.

Tessa snapped her fingers, jolting him out of his daze. “We’d like a table for four, something with a little privacy,” said Tessa. “Can you do that for us, Richie?” She reached out and ran a shiny red fingernail across his chest.

Richard swallowed hard. “Yes, ma’am. Please follow me.” He led the four to a table in the far corner of the restaurant. He pulled a chair out for each lady.

“Thank you, Richie,” said Tessa.

“My pleasure, ladies.” His face was flushed red.

“Of course, it is,” said Sapphire.

“C—Can I start you off with something to drink?” he asked.

“Coffee,” said Shelle.

“Coffee for me too,” said Linda.

“Make that three,” said Sapphire.

“Bring us a pot with lots of cream and milk,” said Tessa.

“Right away.” Richard hustled off.

Sapphire giggled. “Looks like Tessa has a new boy toy.”

“He is kind of cute in a lost puppy sort of way,” said Tessa.

Shelle looked around the room and spied a booth with couple of guys wearing Colorado State sweatshirts. “Ooh, My favorite hobby. College boys.” She stood and smoothed her skirt. “Order me french toast and a side of grits. Be back in a bit.” She sauntered off toward her prey.

“I think I’ll give my order directly to the manager,” said Sapphire.

“I’ll wait for the coffee with Tessa,” said Linda.”

Shelle rocked her hips as she scooted around the tables. The two college students watched with wide eyes and open jaws as she approached their booth.

She stopped at a table across from the booth, grabbed a chair, turned it to face the boys, sat and crossed her legs. Her black skirt rose dangerously high on her thighs.

“Hello boys,” she said in her utterly charming Southern accent. “I’m Shelle.”

The boy on her left said, “My name is Jer—”

“I don’t care.” Shelle waved her hand dismissively. “What I do care about is what you think of my new shoes?”

“S—Shoes?” the two said in unison.

“Of course,” said Shelle with a not-so-innocent looking smile. “I just got these last week. Nine hundred dollars.” She lifted her left foot to allow a better look. Black leather straps secured by silver studs wrapped around Shelle’s delicate foot and a third of away up her shin. The heel was a four-inch spike and a sparkly silver.

“Nine hundred dollars is a lot to spend on shoes,” said the boy on the right.

Shelle giggled. “I didn’t spend that. These were a gift from a devoted admirer.” She lowered her left foot and re-crossed her legs. “So, what do you think?”

The boys stared, but didn’t answer.

She grinned. “Maybe you’re having a little trouble thinking...

“That’s okay...

“I can do all the thinking for you...

“You’d like that wouldn’t you...

“Just listening to my voice...

“And staring at my shoes...

“My shoes are quite lovely...

“Exciting...

“Dangerous...

“Seductive...

“Don’t you just love the heels...

“Long...

“Silver...

“Sexy...

“And the black straps...

“The way they wrap up my legs…

“The way they hug my feet...

“And don’t forget my adorable little toes...”

She wiggled her toes. The boys gasped in response.

“That’s right, boys...

“You just love my toes...

“My feet...

“My shoes...

“You feel the need to be closer...

“Nearer to my wonderful feet...

“And my sexy shoes...

“Kneeling is always good idea...”

The two slipped out of the booth onto the floor and knelt before Shelle.

“That’s right boys...

“Feels so good to kneel before me...

“Feels so good to stare at my shoes...

“You start to notice how my shoes control you...”

She twirled her right foot. Their eyes followed along, circling in their sockets.

“Around...

“And around...

“And around...

“You could do this forever...

“Just watching my shoe...

“My foot...

“My toes...

“Nothing you’d rather do...

“Than sit...

“And stare...”

She giggled.

“Except maybe lick them...

“Can you imagine...

“Running your tongue up and down the shaft of my heels...

“Cleaning the dirty soles...

“Grit accumulating in your mouth...

“Just so hot...

“Isn’t it...

“Let the idea burn into your mind...

“And consume you...

“Want my shoes...

“Worship my shoes...

“Obsess over my shoes...

“Desire to clean my shoes...

“What would you do...

“What would you offer...

“For the chance...

“To worship my shoes...

“To clean my shoes...

“With your unworthy tongues...

“Think about how divine it would be...

“The single greatest moment of your lives...

“You’d offer anything, everything...

“For the honor...

“For the privilege...

“Of cleaning the soles of my shoes with your tongues...

“Wouldn’t you?”

They both nodded slowly.

Shelle laughed. “Out with your wallets, boys! Let’s see if you can make it worth my while.”

Sapphire Rain approached the man in the white shirt and black tie. “Are you the manager?” She flashed a thousand-watt smile.

The man reflexively smiled back. “That’s right, Chris Morton. What can I do for you?”

“Well, Chris, I wanted you to cover the check for my friends and I.” Sapphire pointed to the table where Linda and Tessa were sitting.

“Is there a problem?” asked Morton.

Sapphire shook her head. “Oh, no. No problem at all. I thought I’d give you the chance to do us this favor.”

Morton furrowed his brow. “I’m a little confused. I do—”

“I understand,” said Sapphire.

“Confusion can make it hard to think...

“So very difficult...

“Random ideas...

“Filling your head...

“Difficult to make sense of it all...

“It’s really just easier...

“If you let me to the thinking for you...

“No more confusion...

“No more trouble...

“No more thoughts...

“Just my enchanting...

“Intoxicating...

“Words...

“Filling your mind...

“Your own thoughts are...

“Small...

“Trivial...

“Fading away...

“My words are...

“Powerful...

“Important...

“Essential...

“Can you feel my words...

“My voice...

“Becoming your thoughts...

“Penetrating your mind...

“Altering your subconscious...

“Making you eager to obey...

“Willing to serve...

“Compelled to comply...

“There’s nothing more important...

“Than serving me...

“Obeying me...

“Feel it in your mind...

“Feel it in your bones...

“You are mine...

“Always have been...

“Always will be...

“Falling deeper into my control with every breath...

“With every word...

“And now counting you down from five...

“And when I reach one...

“You’ll be in a state of utter hypnotic trance...

“Open to all my commands and suggestions...

“Five...

“Mind so empty...

“Four...

“So blank...

“Three...

“Vacant...

“Two...

“Void...

“One... Deep sleep now!” Sapphire snapped her fingers.

Morton’s eyes slammed shut.

Sapphire smiled triumphantly. She leaned forward and whispered in his ear. “Now about our check...”

Shelle returned to the table, sat down and slapped a wad of bills on the table. “I’ve got gas money covered.”

Sapphire Rain took a seat a moment later. “I had a little chat with the manager.” She grinned. “Our meal has been comped.”

“Well done, ladies,” said Tessa. “This is turning into the best road trip ever.”

Linda silently sipped her coffee. She always felt like the odd one out in their little group. Three American girls and the foreigner from Slovakia. But she would show them. She was just as capable and talented, could be just as manipulative. She put down her cup and stood. “I will have some fun, too,” she announced to the table.

In the kitchen Linda grabbed two full plates of pancakes. One of the waiters started to object. Linda stared into his eyes. He fell silent.

She carried the pancakes to a table in the center of the restaurant, where a heavyset man sat. She dropped the plates in front of him.

He looked at the plates, then to Linda.

She smiled and locked her eyes on him.

His gulped. The color drained from his face. He stared back into her pale blue eyes, unable to look away.

“Eat,” she commanded.

The word echoed in his mind.

He drenched three pancakes with syrup and slathered them with butter. He cut the pancakes into bits placed them in his mouth.

“Faster,” she said.

His hands moved with urgency, cutting more bites and shoveling them into his mouth. He chewed furiously, with barely a chance to swallow or breathe before he shoved more pancake into his mouth.

“Faster.”

He dropped the knife and fork, and grabbed a whole pancake with his hands. He folded it and stuffed his mouth.

His mouth was full, but he was determined to eat even faster. Her command echoed in his empty mind. No time to chew. A chunk of pancake caught in his throat. He couldn’t breathe, but he was still compelled to keep eating.

With no room left in his mouth, he smashed the pancakes on his face. His skin started to turn blue.

“Linda!” Tessa Fields stared at her with arms crossed. “What are you doing?”

“Just having fun, like the other girls.”

The man eyes closed. He slumped forward, his face falling into the plate of pancakes.

“Fun?” Tessa stood behind the unconscious man’s chair, reached under his waist and yanked. Nothing. Yanked again. Nothing. She pulled with all her might. The man coughed. Pieces of pancake flew out of his mouth. He gasped for air.

“See? All is okay,” said Linda.

“You could have killed him,” snapped Tessa.

“But it’s all fun and games when Sapphire and Shelle empty wallets?”

“That’s different,” said Tessa. “No one gets hurt.”

“Of course, it is,” Linda muttered under her breath.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Tessa Fields has quit T.R.A.N.C.E. Elon Musk is missing. Tessa's sister Molly is in a coma. All a result of the machinations of the evil Mistress Pancake.

But who is this mysterious HypnoDomme? And how did she become Tessa's mortal enemy?

It all began in an IHOP, eight years ago...

This 11,000 word short is rated PG-13 for lots of erotic hypnotic fun.